Decoding how gestational diabetes links to future coronary artery disease
Official title: Decoding pathways linking gestational diabetes mellitus with increased risk of coronary artery disease
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11366359 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using health records and big data to understand why women who had gestational diabetes later face heart disease, with the goal of guiding prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $842,536 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL181110-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366359 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with a history of gestational diabetes or their healthcare providers seeking personalized heart-disease risk information.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of gestational diabetes are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will combine routine clinical data with new blood-based protein measures and existing metabolomics and genetics data to explore two possible pathways from gestational diabetes to later heart disease. Researchers will use longitudinal electronic health records and biobank samples to identify biomarkers and mechanisms that might signal higher heart-disease risk after pregnancy. The team aims to translate these findings into personalized monitoring and prevention strategies for women with a history of gestational diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection and personalized prevention of heart disease in women who had gestational diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and related multi-omics approaches have shown promise in linking pregnancy-related conditions to later cardiovascular risk, but this exact pathway is being tested:**
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Jie — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hu, Jie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
Understanding how gestational diabetes and depression during pregnancy affect mothers and their children
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-
Better Blood Sugar Goals for Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Who Are Overweight or Obese
This project looks at whether stricter blood sugar goals can help pregnant women who have gestational diabetes and are also overweight or obese have healthier pregnancies and babies.
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Understanding how gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy
This study is looking at how the body's insulin-producing cells change in pregnant women to better understand gestational diabetes and help improve diabetes care for moms both during and after pregnancy.
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The effects of gestational diabetes and maternal depression on child development
This study looks at how having gestational diabetes and feeling depressed during pregnancy might affect how children develop, and it’s for moms-to-be who want to understand how their health can impact their little ones.
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Helping women with a history of gestational diabetes prevent type 2 diabetes.
This study is helping women who had gestational diabetes learn about their options for preventing type 2 diabetes, using a friendly tool that makes it easier for them to choose the best path for their health and lifestyle.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.